John d arcy irvine



(No M0661.

J. DA. IRVINE.

FIRING PINLOGK FOR SMALL ARMS. No. 471,122. Patented Mar. 22, 1892.

UNIT D STATES JOHN DAROY IRVINE,

OF HOIVTH, IRELAND.

FIRING-PIN LOOK FOR SMALL-ARMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,122, dated March22, 1892. Application filed September 1, 1891'- Serial No. 404,402. (Nornoclel.) Patented in England January 6, 1891, No. 236.

T0 at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN DAROY IRVINE, a citizen of the United Kingdomof Great Britain and Ireland,residing at I-Iowth,in the county ofDublin, Ireland,haveinvented certain new and useful Apparatus forLocking the Striking-Gear of Small-Arms, (for which I have obtainedprovisional patent in Great Britain dated January 6, 1891, No. 236;) andI do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to fire-arms, more especially to that class whichare provided with a boltaction, such as the Chassepot and magazinerifle, and has for its object to securely and effectually lock thestriking-gear of such arms in such-a way that while the striking-gearremains thus locked the charge cannot be exploded by accident orotherwise.

In carrying out my invention, I propose to increase the usual length ofthe striking-bolt if it should be found necessary to do so for thepurposes of my invention in the weapon to which it is applied, so as tocause a portion of its base or rear end to project through the breech ofthe barrel, and in one side of this projecting portion a suitable holeor recess is formed,for the purpose to be presently described. The stockis provided with framework, to which is pivoted a suitable pawl providedat its free end with a stud, which is adapted to engage the aforesaidhole or recess in the striking-bolt, and which may be locked therein bythe slight forward movement of the striking-bolt in closing the boltaction, as will be hereinafter more fully described. As long as the saidpawl engages in said hole or recess the striking-gear is securely lockedand cannot be acted upon by the trigger. To unlock the striking-gear itis only necessary to disengage the pawl, to elfect which thestriking-bolt must first be moved rearward a little, and then the pawlbeing turned out of engagement the trigger may be brought to bear in theordinary manner.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification, Figure 1 is plan view of the striking-gear and boltaction of a rifle of the ordinary (lhassepot or magazine type, showingthe application of my invention when the striking-bolt is locked. Fig. 2is a plan view of the same showing the striking-bolt unlocked and theoperating-lever depressed or lowered. The piece is now ready for firing.Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, the strong lines showingthe striking-bolt locked by means of the locking-pawl, which constitutesa part of my invention. The dotted lines show the strikingbolt movedback to allow the locking-pawl to be engaged or disengaged. Fig. at is aside elevation of the locking-pawl detached. Fig. 5 is a plan view ofthe same.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figureswhere they appear.

1 designates the breech-block, and 2 the locking-lever for the same. 3is the strikingbolt, and 4 is the trigger-check adapted to engage thelatter, and which in this instance forms part of the spring 5, which issecured at its forward end in the breech of the gun. 6 designates thetrigger, which is connected pivotally at 7 with the spring 5 of thetriggercheck. 8 designates the frame-work at the forward end of thestock. All of these parts are of the usual or any Well-knownconstruction.

Suitably pivoted to the frame-work 8, near the rear end of the same, isa pawl 9, which is bent or curved upwardly and laterally, so as to beadapted to engage the recess in the striking-bolt. The latter isprovided with a lateral recess 10, adapted to receive the stud orlateral projection 11 at the front end of the pawl 9, which projectionhas a rearwardly-extending lip 12 adapted to fit in an undercut space 13at the rear end of the recess or opening 10. The engagement of this liphookwise in said opening 13 serves to lock the stud 11 near its frontend with an upwardly-extending thumb-piece 14, by means of which it maybe conveniently manipulated.

In operating my invention the loading and firing mechanism is operatedin the manner usual to this class of firearms-that is, theoperating-lever 2 is raised and. moved rearwardly, so as to force thestriking-bolt in a rearward direction, thus opening the maga* zine orbreech, enabling the empty shell to be discharged and replaced by a newcart-ridge. Said new cartridge is then forced into the in said recess.The pawl 9 is also provided chamber of the barrel by pressing orforcing.

the operating-lever in a forward direction. At the same time the pawl 9may be manipulated by the thumb of the operator, so as to throw the stud11 into engagement with the recess 10, on doing which and turning theoperating-lever 2 down it is locked by the lip 12, engaging the opening13 at the inner end of said recess. The striking-boltwill then oc cupythe position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and also in strong linesin Fig. 3, by reference to which latter figure it will be seen that thesaid striking-bolt is held or retained a little distance in rear of thetrigger-check. \Vhen retained in this position, the gun cannot be fired.The cartridge cannot be discharged by accident or otherwise, because itis impossible for the striking-bolt to come in contact therewith.

To put the arm in condition for being discharged, the operating-lever israised and drawn back until the striking-bolt is moved slightly in arearward direction, and the locking-pawl 9 is then easily disengagedfrom the recess 10, as will be seen in Fig. 2 of the drawin gs. Theoperating-lever is then again carried forward and lowered or depressed,so as to lock the breech. The striking-bolt will thus be permitted topass forward until it engages the trigger-check, by which it is helduntil the trigger 6 is pulled to move it out of the path of thestriking-bolt when the latter will be carried forward by the action ofthe usual operating-spring, and the piece will be discharged.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings,the operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understoodby those skilled in the artto which it appertains. In bolt-actionfire-arms the objection has heretofore usually existed that they couldnot be conveniently secured at half-cock, or in such a manner as toprevent accidental discharge. By my invention this objection is entirelyovercome in a simple and convenient manner and by means which may beconveniently applied to all ordinary bolt-action fire-arms withoutaltering the general construction of the same in any way.

WhileI have herein described the preferred construction of my inventionI desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the detailsof the same, as herein described, but reserve the right to any changesand moditl cations of the same to which recourse may be had withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-' 1. In a bolt-actionfire-arm, the combination, with the striking-bolt having a recess in itsside, of a pawl pivoted in rear thereof and arranged to engage saidrecess and hold the striking-boltout of action when desired,substantially as set forth.

2. In a fire-arm of the class described, the combination, with thestriking-bolt having an undercut recess, of a pawl pivoted in rearthereof and having a stud and lip adapted to engage hookwise in saidrecess, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the striking-bolt having a suitable recessprovided with a rearwardly-extended opening at its inner end, of asuitably-arranged pivoted pawl having a stud adapted to engage saidrecess, and a thumb-piece, by means of which it may be convenientlymanipulated, substantially as herein specified.

Dated this 14th day of July, 1891.

JOHN DAROY IRVINE.

Witnesses:

EDWARD FOTTRELL, W. A. REID,

U. S. Deputy Consul, Dublin.

